Speaking classes/clubs vs. the 'real thing'?

This is a continuation of my previous post about challenging yourself and it might be controversial for some but it's an opinion which I have been meaning to publish here for some time.

Throughout the years when I was teaching adult education classes in public speaking, there was one question which students would often ask as a twelve-week course drew to a close: 'Is there a Stage 2?'

My reply was always the same, that 'Stage 2' was going out and speaking to as many different audiences in as many different venues as possible, far away from what had now become the relative comfort zone of the class.

In later years, I did introduce a Stage 2, concentrating on more challenging forms of public speaking, and when that ended students would ask 'Is there a Stage 3?'. Once again, I would tell them 'Yes, go out into the wide world and do it!'

I often hear about former students of mine who have become regular speakers, in fact, the current issue of a local newspaper in my area has a report about a recent talk given by one of them, describing her audience's reaction as 'amazed and delighted'. I have read many similar complimentary press pieces about her speaking engagements. I once read about another of my former students receiving a standing ovation from one club. It's gratifying to know that I helped them and many others along the way.

But sometimes I will bump into the odd student who completed a course and showed great improvement but did nothing with this new skill afterwards. Such a shame; such a waste.

Halfway between these two groups are what I would call 'institutionalised speakers'. They belong to a speakers' club and have done for years - but this is the vast majority of the speaking they do.

The problem as I see it is that when you join a speaking class or club, you are probably very nervous about even speaking to a small audience. Everyone else there may be a stranger and your presentations, however short, are real challenges for you. Then, as the weeks and months go on, through regular practice at getting up in front of that audience, you become more confident. Besides, after a while, you know everyone and you have heard them speak enough times to recognise that at least some of them are not perfect speakers. From now on, it is any newcomers who are at a disadvantage - not you. Yes, over time, you have developed into a more confident speaker...

But now what?

You have been getting used to giving short speeches to the same size of audience, who you know anyway, in the same venue at the same time of day on the same day of the week and with the same group of people running the event. You may have the opportunity through a class to gain LAMDA or New Era speaking qualifications while a club may offer you the chance to visit other clubs, enter regional or national contests or gain their own certification. Take them if you wish to develop.

But if you really want to progress, then I would suggest that you might like to consider speaking to as many different types and sizes of audience in different venues in different regions for different lengths of time and at different times - or with at least some of these variations.

Variety leads to versatility.

When I was in a class, I took the optional LAMDA Bronze Medal and then launched myself into as many talks, stand-up gigs and radio appearances as I could get or was asked to do once I had started circulating my details. I spoke paid and unpaid, I did two minutes here, an hour there, for audiences ranging from less than 20 to 600 (and many thousands for the media appearances).

Three months after the course finished, after an extra coaching session from my tutor, I passed the LAMDA Silver Medal and we did the same three months after that with the Gold. In the September, I took her speaking course again - but this was only to prepare me for passing the much harder Associate Diploma. I missed two lessons - to go off and complete paid speaking engagements elsewhere (different audiences, etc, etc). Over the twelve months of 1996, on top of the classes and exams, I got up in front of other audiences nearly 50 times. It paid off. I soon felt able to tackle most types of engagement, started passing auditions, getting very good testimonials and recommendations. Oh, and more regular payment as well!

So am I saying that you should leave your branch of Toastmasters International or the Association of Speakers Clubs? Of course not! A couple of my friends from the UK public speaking blogosphere are still very enthusiastic members as well as completing a wide range of other presentations (and I'm sure Jeremy and Jason may want to comment about this!) What I am saying is that if you do most of your speaking within a club or simply regard the last lesson of a course as your final challenge then you are missing many  further opportunities to develop as a speaker. Diminishing returns may even set in!

Public Speaking Tip #286: A public speaking course or club is just the first step to becoming a really accomplished speaker. You need to be looking for outside challenges as well.